Rosalie's Point of View

2003

I skipped the awkward, interrogating ride home and instead opted for running. I knew running would take less time, despite the fact that cars can travel over eighty miles an hour.

I stopped when I smelled the blood. I cursed silently and switched routes. I ran towards the scent and immediately attacked the deer that was unlucky enough to cross my path. I snapped it's neck as soon as I reached it and drank it's blood lazily to put off the confrontation that would happen at the house.

I slowly opened the door to find Esme dry sobbing. I sighed at the sad sight. Carlisle sat next to her, whispering soothing words in her ears.

"What happened?" I asked.

Esme looked up and drew a deep breath. "Edward left."

"He's coming back though, he has to." Carlisle interrupted. "He just needed to sort things out, darling."

"What's wrong with Edward?" I questioned coldly. I sometimes wondered why I pretended to be like this. My past life made me a little cold, I'll admit. However, I knew that if I told them I would be pitied, and no one likes pity, especially me.

"He almost came close to killing a human today." Carlisle answered.

"But he didn't," Esme protested. "So he didn't have to leave."

"He needed to clear his head."

"Who did he almost attack?" I asked, curious and worried.

"Charlie Swan's daughter." he answered. "Isabella."

I froze. If blood was thumping in my veins I knew it would have turned cold and I knew if my heart were still beating it would have skipped. "What?" I shrieked.

"Calm down, Rosalie." Carlisle said. "We aren't leaving."

"G-Good." I mumbled. "Is she alright?"

He nodded distractedly, "Yes. Of course. Or we wouldn't be here right now."

I sighed heavily in relief. "Good." I turned around to leave but was interrupted by Carlisle's voice calling me back. I looked back and saw the curiosity in his eyes. He has a sparkle of hope. I wonder why. "Yes?"

"Alice told me something interesting earlier." He stated casually.

Esme – who had stopped dry sobbing and realized how, yes, Edward would come back, like he always did – sat up straighter. "Yes, very interesting."

I cursed and Esme gave me a look. I shook my head innocently, well, as innocent as a blood sucking murderer can be. "I have no clue what you're talking about. Sorry."

"No need to lie, Rosalie. We're quite proud of you. You talked to a human, in a spontaneous way, but you talked nonetheless. Have you finally gotten over–"

"We should talk about this later." I interrupted. "I mean, Edward might be wondering too. No need to repeat a conversation twice." I didn't wait for a response, but instead shot up the stairs.

Edward didn't return the next day, and I wasn't complaining. I didn't have to hide my thoughts. Emmett was worried about me, he could see that something in me had changed. He just wasn't sure if it was for the better.

Bella's Point of View.

"Bella!" A high pitched voice called. I turned around to see Jessica running up towards me. She slid across the linoleum in her slick shoes. She flew right into me and I caught her, steadying her as much as I could.

She looked up at me and grinned. "Bella, you should sit with us today...at lunch."

I looked at her. Was she serious? No one ever wanted me to sit with them. Even before what Matt did I was slightly shy and antisocial. I was content though. My bottom lip landed under my teeth, and I bit it, like I did a lot when I was nervous.

"I..." I tried to think of a good excuse. Jessica was a nice girl, that much I could tell, but I also knew she had a hidden agenda. She eagerly followed around Lauren Mallory. By the look in her eyes, Jessica would be willing to do anything to become more popular. "I'm sitting with a friend. We made plans already."

She pouted. "Darn. Maybe next time!"

I didn't want to give her any ideas so I did something between a nod and a shake of my head and walked away quickly. I walked to the table where I sat yesterday and pulled out my book. I heard approaching foot steps and looked up with a hesitant smile.

Rosalie's Point of View.

I walked up to her, a tray of food balancing perfectly in my manicured fingers. "May I sit?"

She nodded and pulled out a seat for me. "Absolutely."

I looked at her empty table. She had pushed aside her book and looked nervously back at our table. Mixed emotions fluttered across her face when she noticed the other absent chair. She looked even more nervous when she saw that all of my siblings were staring at us. It seemed the whole lunch room was sitting with us.

I pushed my food towards her when she turned back around. "Eat." I ordered.

She raised an inquisitive eyebrow at me. "No thanks, I'm fine."

My eyes flickered towards her frail arms. I glanced at my tray and picked off the applesauce and placed it in front of her crossed arms. "Please." She nodded, giving a sigh and grabbed the spoon on the tray. "Thank you."

"Why...why are you sitting here with me?"

Because you're my sister. I know you are. You act just like her. You look just like her. You're her. You have to be. "Because you're nice, Bella, and I need a friend."

"I would love to be your friend." she said shyly while flushing at her wording. She finished the small bowl of applesauce and I sat my water in front of her. "You aren't hungry?"

I shook my head. "No, sweetie."

She laughed to herself and sent me a questioning look. "Sweetie?"

I laughed with her and nodded to confirm her rhetorical question. "Why don't you eat, Bella?"

She shuffled her feet and mumbled – intending for me not to here, "It hurts...to eat." she glanced down at her small frame. "It makes me feel sick."

"You don't have...?" I trailed off, not wanting to say it.

She sighed. "I don't know. I can eat, it just makes me feel sick. I eat applesauce though." she chuckled to herself, nervously. "I know."

"At least you're eating something." I smiled at her hidden face.

"So, why is your family staring at me?" She asked.

"Because they're nosy and don't know how to mind their own business." I replied nonchalantly, but sent them a withering glare. She smiled and looked down at the table.

I grinned and picked up the tray, telling her I was going to dump it. Alice sent me a look when I passed her. I ignored it and walked back to Bella. "Do you want me to walk you to your next class? You are new here."

She nodded while picking up her book. "I would love that." The bell rang and I walked to her Biology with Mr. Banner. She thanked me when she got there.

"I'll see you in English." She said before walking into the classroom.

I smiled to myself and walked to Spanish.

"Bella. Did Edward...do anything to you?" I asked suddenly.

Her head flew up to look at me. "No! Why?"

"I'm just curious. I've heard some things..."

"It's just..." she looked around. "Can I trust you?"

"Of course!" I insisted.

"Well, when I sat next to him he kept looking at me...As if I were something to eat. He was glaring at me and it looked like he wasn't breathing." She said quietly.

I tensed up at what she said. How dare he scare her! "He is a little antisocial."

She smiled at me. "I'm happy that I can trust you."

"Any time, Bella."

"Would you like to come over?" Bella asked the next day. "To my house. To finish the project."

I smiled. "I would love to. What time?"

She pulled out a piece of paper and scribbled down her her address. "How about after school, around four? You can join us for dinner too. You can go to your house first though, get everything you need."

I nodded. "Yeah. That sounds good."

The bell rang. She picked up her books and before leaving, said, "Great. I'll see you later!"