Chapter 4

CatPOV

I can't believe it. It's only the second day of school and I'm already running late. I rushed through my morning routine. This greatly irritated Chance as I didn't allow him to properly search for the perfect spot for his morning duties.

I was just about to run out the door when I noticed my hand. The bandage looked disgusting; my hand had bled all night leaving the bandage to look like something out of a horror movie. I didn't have the time to properly change it. I just threw another bandage over the old one and prayed that no one would notice.

I jumped into my pretty black car. It wasn't new, but that didn't matter. It was what was on the inside that counts. Brad had given my engine a makeover that basically turned my car into something highly illegal in the state of Texas. As long as I didn't push my car to its capabilities, no one would be able to tell. I thanked my lucky stars that I decided to take my car up here. It was a long drive in my little black Honda Civic, but it definitely came in handy on days like these. Today, those capabilities would have to be pushed.

Along with the gift of an engine makeover, Brad taught me how to drive. Well, he taught me how to drive like him. These lessons brought us closer together, seeing as my dad could not know about them. Before the lessons, Brad had just been my brother. After, we were best friends. It was a secret love that he and I could share. I choked back a sob as I thought about the little dirt roads we would go find and have our brother/sister bonding time. They were the best moments of my life.

I hopped into my car, turned the key in the ignition, threw my car into gear, and floored it. The engine roared and my car leapt out of its resting place, and I soared to school.

The feeling was absolutely extraordinary. I hadn't driven like a speed demon in a very long time, and I could tell it was something I missed. I made a promise to myself that I would find the time and the place to drive like this again. I also promised myself that I would never drive like this in the city again.

I hurried into the school parking lot, finding that there wasn't much parking left. I grudgingly parked in the back lot and made my way to class. I vaguely noticed that I wasn't the only one late today. A shiny silver car pulled up a couple of spaces away from my car.

I noticed movement inside the car in my peripheral vision, but no one actually stepped out of the car. I glanced towards the car and noticed a big guy sitting in the front seat staring at me like I was lunch. The rest of the occupants in the car had mixed expressions on their faces. Most of their expressions were very serious except one. A slight girl with spiky dark hair looked back and forth between the big guy and me with a calm, almost ethereal look on her face. At one point, she flashed me an award winning smile. I smiled back, knowing confusion was firmly planted in my expression.

I didn't have all day to contemplate the strange people in the shiny silver car. I held my school bag tightly to my side, and rushed into class.

The professor was already speaking as I slipped into class. I walked in as quietly as possible, and slipped into one of the seats in the back of the classroom.

The professor was talking about the next book he was assigning us to read. I let out a long sigh of relief when I heard him talking about Great Expectations. I had read that one a long time ago. The next three weeks were to be dedicated to the Charles Dickens classic, so I would have it pretty easy. It left time for me to focus more on the reading assignment for American Literature, The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway. I had never been a big Hemingway fan, so it would take more concentration than usual to get through one of his books.

As the professor droned on about the assigned literature, I allowed my mind to wonder about the events of this morning. I couldn't have but think about that strange group of people in that silver car. Why was the big guy staring at me like that? And why did everyone else seem anxious about it? And what was up with the small girl? Why did she look so… pleased to see me? I was absolutely certain I had never spoken to any of them before, so I couldn't have offended them in any way. I looked at my clothes. I wasn't wearing anything that screamed, "Texan!" I learned very early that people up North don't have the best idea of Texans.

I was so escaped in my thoughts, that I didn't realize that everyone in the room had left, and the professor was gathering his things. I stood up walked out the door. I kept searching for the big guy or the slight girl from the car earlier this morning. I had never seen them before, so I don't know why I was expecting to see them now.

The day ended quickly for me, and I rushed to my car. When I finally reached it, I noticed that the silver car was already gone. A shot of disappointment ran through me. I wanted to confront their odd behavior. I've managed to go through the past couple of months without anyone noticing me, let alone have a problem with me. What the hell could I have done?

I shook the feeling of disappointment. It was immediately replaced with a feeling of annoyance. The feeling stayed with me the entire drive home.

I pulled up to my apartment, happy to be home. I walked up the stairs, feeling complete elation. When I looked at my front door, however, the feeling quickly escaped me. The front door was slightly cracked. I distinctly remember closing and locking the door behind me, it was a habit I had picked up after moving to Portland. I pulled a small can of mace of out my purse, and held it out in front of me as I opened the door. My arms immediately fell to my side as a familiar face stared at me from my living room.

"Oh, my God! What are you doing here?!"

EmPOV

"Alice! Bella! Come on, we're going to be late!" I roared through the house from the bottom of the stairs. Jasper and Edward were standing beside me, obviously irritated with the girls as well, but would never take that tone with them. I wasn't scared of them; I could talk to them however I wanted. Okay, maybe I was a little scared of Alice. But a vampire running late is absolutely ridiculous. There is no chance of oversleeping, considering that we never slept. Vampire speed should rule out running behind. What could they be doing up there?

Bella was the first to come down the stairs. She looked just as irritated as the rest of us. It was apparent that she did not have any say on how the morning went for her. She was dressed in very non-Bella clothes and her hair made her look like a Miss America contestant.

"Sorry, guys," she mumbled. "Alice went a little overboard this morning. I tried to stop her, but she's a lot stronger than she looks."

Just then, Alice danced her way down the stairs. She didn't look the least bit shaken at the fact that we were all aggravated with her.

"Okay, I'm ready!" she exclaimed with an enormous smile on her face.

I glared at her with my best mean face. She just continued to smile that knowing smile of hers as we headed to the car. "Well, missy, can you explain to me why we are running late this morning? You are aware this is the first time in the history of the universe that a vampire is going to be late."

Alice continued to smile at me as she spoke, "We are not going to be late, Emmett. In fact, I think we'll be right on time."

I hated the fact that she was using her powers to manipulate the events of the day. To me, it was cheating. Why couldn't she just let the day unfold naturally?

As to be expected, we arrived to school late. I tried not to let my annoyance take over me, but resistance was futile. We drove to one of the back lots, and managed to find a parking space in one of the last rows.

"Dammit, Alice, I knew we were going to be late!" I opened by door slightly, when the smell hit me. It was like a ton of bricks all over again.

Jasper and Edward were immediately aware of my change of mood. Edward grabbed my arm, forcing the door shut. A little cloud of her scent was stuck inside the car. I held my breath, and allowed Jasper to send calming waves over me.

"What's going on?" Bella's voice was full of panic.

"It's her," I managed to breathe out. We all turned to look at her. She was walking by the car quickly, trying to make it to class. She was medium height, and had a very athletic, almost stocky build. Her curly brown hair danced down to the middle of her back. She turned, and looked directly at me. Her blue eyes were piercing. They reminded me of my mother's when she caught me doing something bad. I also noticed a bandage on her hand covered in her blood. Her sweet, delicious blood… Get a grip, Emmett. She then looked slightly to my left and flashed an awkward smile. I turned, and saw Alice smiling at her.

"Alice! What are you doing?" I didn't want the girl to feel welcome enough to approach us. I was so afraid of hurting her.

"I'm just being polite, Emmett. I don't want her to think we're monsters. Look at us!"

I looked around, and it certainly was a sight to see. Bella looked worried and anxious. Jasper and Edward were on guard, ready to restrain me at a moment's notice. I could only imagine what kind of look I was giving that girl.

"Edward," I turned to my brother whose grip never relaxed on my arm. "What is she thinking?"

He looked at her briefly, and then spoke. "She is wondering what she could have done to offend you. And she thinks that Alice is really strange."

I laughed boisterously. It seemed to break the tension in the car, and we all relaxed. "Well, she's got that right!"

Everyone chuckled, but then fell silent. Each was contemplating what to do next.

"I think we should go home," Bella said softly. Edward turned to me, awaiting my response. I nodded. He turned the car on, and we went home.

Esme was waiting for us at the door. She must have heard us coming up the road. "What's the matter? Why are you home early?" She made no attempt to hide the worry in her voice.

"She was there, at the school," Jasper said, his expression solemn.

"Oh, Emmett! What happened?" She scanned my appearance quickly, trying to find any signs worthy of her concern. When she was satisfied that I had not killed the girl, her posture visibly relaxed.

"I don't know. I was just about to walk out of the car, when her scent hit me like a freight train. Before I had time to react, Edward pulled me back in the car." I turned to him and attempted to smile gratefully.

Esme turned to Edward and smiled as well. Edward spoke, "It wasn't just me. Emmett displayed remarkable self-control. He held his breath and was perfectly still. After his initial movement, he made no attempts to run after the girl."

This time, the whole family was looking at me and smiling. I couldn't believe that they were actually proud of me.

"I knew you could do it, Emmett. I knew all along. I just had to make sure you knew." Alice was practically bouncing where she stood. She ran up to me and threw her little arms around my waist. But I was not in the mood.

"Alice!" I growled. My tone alarmed her and she quickly pulled away from me. Jasper growled softly and placed himself in between me and Alice.

I continued, unfazed by Jasper's reaction. "I can't believe you! You willingly put that girl's life in danger just to make a point! I COULD HAVE KILLED HER!"

Bella came up to me, and softly put her hand on my arm. "Don't be mad, Emmett. You didn't hurt that girl. Alice was just trying to make you see what we all know you are capable of."

Her soft words pierced my anger, and I calmed myself down. I took in a deep breath before I continued, "Why was the lesson so important, Alice? Why is this girl important?"

There was a little bit of shame etched in Alice's features, but I could tell that she was determined not to let me see it. "She's very important to you, Emmett. Or, at least, she will be very soon."

Before I could question her further, she stopped me. She headed up to her bedroom. Jasper followed behind her closely. Esme, Edward, Bella, and I looked after them inquisitively. I could see Edward trying to read her mind, but she was keeping it blocked. He let at a hiss in frustration.

"She keeps playing something in her mind over and over. Something you told her, Emmett. 'Don't meddle, Alice.'"

I was suddenly regretting those words. Alice knew all the information I wanted to know. I wouldn't let her win, however. I could find out all these things without her help.

I sat down at the kitchen table, running through a million ideas in my head. I never heard Carlisle come home. He, Edward, and Bella joined me at the table.

"Emmett," Carlisle started, softly. "Emmett, I have a theory."

I looked up at him. I was so hopeful. I could sit here for the next five months and not come up with a single reasonable theory. Leave it to Carlisle to do all my hard work for me.

"Lay it on me."

"Well," he started slowly, looking at Bella and Edward. "No vampire in history has ever resisted their singer. That is, no vampire before Edward."

I looked at Edward with all the respect I could muster. He met my gaze, and then squeezed Bella's hand. She looked at him with complete adoration, and my heart suddenly ached for Rose.

Carlisle continued, "I've been wondering for some time now what would happen if instead of falling victim to the song of their blood, the vampire decided to get to know their singer. There has to be a reason, Emmett. There has to be a reason why one person is singled out in the way they smell and the effect they have on a certain vampire."

My mind was working over this bit of information. Of course, there had to be a reason. Maybe Fate brought me and this mystery girl together. But why?

"Carlisle, my heart belongs to Rose."

"I know, Emmett," Carlisle's expression changed. He looked like he was working out a complex math problem. "I don't know what the reason is, Emmett, but I think it would be to your benefit to find out. That is, if you trust yourself to. We cannot make this decision for you."

I glanced at Edward and Bella. Edward's face was blank. He did not want to sway my decision one way or another. Bella, on the other hand, looked hopeful. She desired to know the truth, though I knew she would have accepted my decision if I decided not to pursue this bit of knowledge.

What if I fell in love with this girl the way Edward fell in love with Bella? I didn't want to hurt Rose that way. No, there is no way I could love anyone the way I love Rose. Who was this girl? What role is she supposed to play in my life? I had to know.

'Well, what are we waiting for? Let's find out about the girl causing all this trouble."