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Chapter 3

It was far too soon to hope my day was over, on my way home I got pulled over. I might have been able to lose the officer but this truck was ancient, it wouldn't go over 60 and I wasn't an expert.

The officers name was Charlie, and I got pulled over because my tail light was out. Great, I thought, just what I needed. Fortunately he let me off with just a warning. He was very friendly, something I hadn't expected. He even gave me directions to the only repair shop in town.

I drove in silence hoping my night was really over. It hadn't been a bad day but I was mentally exhausted and there were still too many things left to sift through. Why did Edward instantly hate me? Who were the Cullens? What was their secret? How much did they know about me? Did they all hate me? Would they hurt me? Just as my thoughts were getting out of hand I pulled into my cabins driveway, just in time.

I ran through my front door and dove into my pillow as if it were my only salvation. It turns out it kind of was. I slept more than I ever had before, and the alarm actually woke me! I didn't want to get up or go to school. The thought startled me because I realized how human that sounded. How long had it been since I felt this way? I embraced the feeling but got up anyway, it was only my second day after all.

I drove to school carefully, the rain had stopped but the roads were still wet. Better safe than sorry. I remembered the busted tail light almost immediately and I drove in the opposite direction to drop off my truck.

I was walking in at the entrance of the parking lot when a car slowly drove up next to me. Maybe it wasn't that slow, maybe my senses were fast but I picked up every detail behind the tinted windows of that silver Volvo. Four curious pairs of eyes in the beautiful faces of the Cullens stared my way. One of those faces wore a smile, the other nodded in acknowledgement, the third shook his head in confusion, and the fourth seemed very angry. I changed my glance from the car to my shoes even though it was too late. The encounter had startled me but not enough to ignore the fact that Edward wasn't in that car. Maybe he had his own car but I doubted that, if the older boys were all riding in one car then surely he wouldn't have his own right? I know I shouldn't care where he is but I wanted to see him, needed to. The fear he inspired within me gave me such an ever present adrenaline rush that I wanted to feel. I realize this makes me sound a little crazy, maybe even suicidal if he's dangerous but I hadn't truly felt in so long that it jolted me to life. Before that moment in time, life was all the same routine. So I held on to a little shred of hope that I would see him today.

I clung to this hope desperately only to be disappointed, he wasn't there. I sat very still and tense at lunch waiting for his arrival and he didn't show. I walked into Biology cautiously, holding my breath at the entrance only to find that the seat next to my own remained unoccupied. A jolt of relief moved through me; after all I said, I still made the cowardly lion look like the terminator.*

~*~

The rest of my week was uneventful. I had already settled into the routine and things seemed to wind down at school. I had walked to school the last few days because my car wasn't ready. Dowling's was the only repair shop in town and the speed made it obvious that they had more than they could handle. It didn't surprise me though. Most of the cars around here looked old and a little beat up, the newest car was the shiny silver Volvo that... That the Cullens drove. Of course, how could I have missed it before? I had been too preoccupied with their faces before to notice their clothes. They were dressed very well in comparison to everyone else. How suiting, I thought, money and good looks.

The silver Volvo brought my thoughts back to Edward. He hadn't been at school the entire week. His absence bothered me, guilty thoughts plagued me the entire week. What if I did cause his sudden departure? Nevertheless, I got used to it; my anticipation dissipated and would go to lunch and Biology without scanning the area for him.

To my disappointment it was snowing Friday morning. I had been able to walk in the somewhat decent weather without attracting attention but hope of that was gone. I would have to pick up my truck today whether the tail light was working or not.

Mike and Tyler caught up to me in the entrance of the school.

"Hey Bella!" They shouted simultaneously.

"Hey Mike, Eric. What's up?"

Eric ignored my greeting.

"Did you walk to school?"

"Yeah, I've been walking this whole week. I bought a truck but I had to replace the tail light and its taking them longer than expected."

"I'll give you a lift after school." Offered Eric

"I can do it" Mike added.

Neither seemed too happy about how the conversation had turned.

"That's really nice of you but I think I'll walk. Besides, both of you live in the opposite direction, it wouldn't make sense."

"Well actually I drove a couple more people to school this morning and one of those stops is right down your street." Mike said a little too enthusiastically.

"I guess that would work then. The weather doesn't look like its going to get better anytime soon and I would hate to have to walk in this." I gestured towards the sky. "Thanks Mike, and thank you for the offer Eric."

Eric scowled at Mike but Mike's smile only widened, mocking. It seems I earned a new fan. I sighed and kept moving. I would have to figure out what to do about that later.

The day moved quickly and before I knew it, the end of the day had come. I wasn't as excited for the weekend as everyone else but what else was new? I didn't have much to look forward to these days.

"Hey Bella, are you ready to go?" Shouted Mike from the locker room, surely so everyone would hear. I just nodded as he ran over to meet me.

"Great, lets get to it. Oh wait, I forgot my notebook, do u mind if I run up to get it?"

"Of course not, go ahead."

I waited leaning against the wall when Jessica approached me.

"Hey Bella, what are you doing?"

"Waiting, Mi... my ride forgot his notebook."

She seemed to catch on to my avoidance quickly, she must have heard mike shout.

"Who is driving you?" she asked cautiously.

"Mike, this morning they saw me walking and its been snowing all day so Eric and Mike offered. Mike was going in my direction though so I thought it would be more practical to catch a ride with him you know? No big deal." I said far too quickly. I just didn't want Jessica to get the wrong idea. She seemed to like Mike.

"Oh right, no big deal."She paused, unsure of her next words. "You don't like, like him do you?"

"Oh no. He's very nice but its not like that between us. Besides, I think he likes you."

"Really?"

"Yeah, I can tell. Like the way he always ends up sitting next to you, and how he always flirts with you. You should ask him to the dance, its girls choice right?"

"Oh my God, I know! I notice that too. I think your right. I'll ask him. Here he comes though, tell me if he says anything about me ok?!" she walked off very happily.

I felt a little guilty, these were behaviors I had noticed of her not of him, but I didn't want to upset her. Also I didn't think she would believe me but as it seems she had this delusion planted in her head long ago.

Mike interrupted my reverie as he approached.

"Sorry about the wait. So Lauren and Tyler are riding with us, but you can take shotgun."

The drive was short and we weren't very far from the dirt and gravel roads that led to the cabins. Mike drove a few more minutes when I was able to spot the curvy road. I asked Mike to drop me off there so that he wouldn't get stuck in the mud. He wasn't too happy about it but agreed after a moment. I waved as they pulled away and just like deja vu the sweet icy scent floated to my nose.

I was going to investigate this time, what if it had been Edward Cullen? I started moving faster, I slowed, then sped up, and finally I settled for a speed walk through the forest, less conspicuous that way. I didn't have to follow the trail long before I found what I was looking for.

"Hi there." Came a bell like voice from the small girl, Alice.

"What are you doing here?" My voice came out small, quiet.

"We were just making sure you didn't hurt those kids." Emmett said in a taunting tone.

"Why would I hurt them?" I tried to ask surprised. I was surprised. Not at the question but at why they would ask it. Did they know what I was? What were they? Did they hunt vampires?

Alice's elbow dug into Emmett's ribs and he chuckled.

"We have some theories." Emmett said as Rosalie gave him an angry glare.

Suddenly Alice's face went smooth and blank and everyone seemed to notice the change. Jasper who had seemed uninterested was staring at Alice intently, expectantly. Emmett seemed impatient. Rosalie seemed bored, like this was all some routine that didn't amuse her in the least. Finally Alice returned.

"Some other time then." She said mostly to herself when she turned an disappeared through the forest.

"Oh what now?" Emmett said as he darted after her.

Rosalie went and Jasper followed and in the silence that continued I distinctly heard the words "she does smell... interesting."

I shivered.

*Quote from Twilight by Stephanie Meyer.