Note: I really am upset. Nobody has reviewed my story, even if it does only have one chapter at the moment! PLEASE spread the word - I'm begging! Sorry that the last chapter wasn't so 'captivating', but it had to go that way! As I said, Edward will have some 'vampire-like' symptoms, but he IS a human. I want to see if you guys can figure out the mystery! But, if you get it, don't ruin it for anyone else who may not know, please. BTW: Edward, Bella, and Jacob are 16, Alice and Jasper are 17, and Rosalie and Emmett are 18 and in college. Edward, Alice, Jasper, Rosalie, and Emmett are all adopted Cullens and yes, the pairs are still the same since none of them are blood relations. I mean, it's not like they could help that they were all adopted by the same parents! P.S.: I will probably post a Playlist for this FanFic and my other one, too, so look for it on my profile/bio!
EPOV
Crap! It was Bella - the one girl who I didn't want to see today. (AN: You will understand why later on!) I was at a loss for an explanation. What could I say when I'd already made her think that I'd be at the stupid blood drive?
Thankfully, Alice stepped in. "We have a sort of…aversion to needles. I'm Alice, Edward's sister. You must be Bella!"
"Yes, I am. You must, um, like shoes," she said, eyeing the six bags full of boxes that I was carrying.
"Like them? I love them! But I love shopping more!" Alice was probably going to scare her off with her enthusiasm for malls. I rolled my eyes.
"So you've met the frightening little pixie/shopaholic that calls herself my sibling," I joked. I had the feeling that Bella didn't buy the excuse Alice had made up, and I wanted to get away before things became really awkward.
Apparently, Alice sensed my anxiety. "Well, it was nice to meet you, Bella. I'll see you at lunch tomorrow." We finally departed. That was…close. Too close.
"Edward….you should really tell her," Alice said quietly. "I know that you secretly like Bella."
"I can't afford to like anyone. Why should I bring her into this? I'm…I'm not good enough for her." She deserves someone who can be with her for as long as she wants." (AN: Where have we heard that before??)
"Edward! Stop saying that," she scolded. "But, I'm warning you - if you keep this a secret, it's really going to come back to hurt you. You shouldn't hide things - especially when it comes to girls."
"I know, Alice." I sighed. I knew that I should never bet against Alice, but I was just going to have to take my chances this time. "I've never told anyone and I don't plan on starting now. Bella doesn't need to know, OK? She'd probably just think I'm weird like everyone else does. I don't think that I could take it."
I sped up, the shopping bags hitting against me as I went. I climbed inside my Volvo and slammed the door shut. Fate really won't leave me alone, will it?
BPOV
I have never felt so strong an urge to try to figure a person out. It's really…weird - for me, especially. I'm usually pretty shy until I get to know people. Then, of course, I open up more. It's just…Edward was, to put it simply, captivating. His eyes - so beautiful yet so sad - were the greenest color I'd ever seen.
I really couldn't deny it any longer. I liked Edward Cullen much more than I should, considering the fact that I hardly know him and he's more mysterious than any man should ever have a right to be.
Something was causing his unhappiness. Edward hid it well, but I was known to be an observant person. And, strangely enough, I was determined to find out what it was. I had a feeling that his absence from the blood drive, odd as it sounds, was a major clue. But how did that fit into anything?
I shook my head mentally. I had to stop thinking about him - it couldn't possibly be healthy.
This time, Edward was in his seat before me. I sat down and turned to face him.
"So…not to be annoying or anything, but would you like to, um, work on that paper with me tomorrow afternoon?" I had to use all my courage to ask him that.
"Sorry, I'm busy tomorrow," he replied coldly, not even looking my way. I was crushed - he had replied with such indifference! "Oh. OK," I turned away, trying to hide the pain on my face.
Once again, we spent the rest of the period in complete silence, except this time I was glad for the quiet. I don't think that I could bear it if he spoke even one word to me.
Yet again, just another thing I didn't understand about Edward. I had only tried to be nice to him. Why was he acting this way?
I decided to take a walk through the woods behind my house - I mean, it's not like I had anything better to do. Yes, I was a known klutz, and there was a possibility that I could fall and break my ankle, but my coordination had improved over the years, so I decided to take the risk.
I tied on my tennis shoes and started out on the trail, wanting to see where it would lead to. After about ten minutes, I began to wonder if it would ever end. Finally, I saw sunlight peeking through the trees' branches and leafy boughs.
I pushed past the scratchy twigs and soon found myself in the most beautiful meadow I'd ever seen. It was like a little circle of heaven right in the middle of the heart of Forks' forest. I looked around in awe, distracted by the brightly colored wildflowers and buttery sunshine, when I heard a growl coming from behind me. I turned around to come face to face with a huge gray-brown wolf, foam collecting at its mouth. Just my luck to come across not only a fierce wild animal, but a rabid fierce wild animal.
Running would only make it chase after me. I stood there stupidly, unable to move, bracing myself for what was to come when a shot rang out through the clearing.
The wolf howled and fell to the ground, dead. I looked in shock at none other than Edward, standing between two dogwoods on the edge of the meadow, a gun in his hand. As soon as he had arrived, he darted away. How had he known that I was in danger and…why did he care now?
Note: OK, this chapter is a little confusing. The wolf was NOT a werewolf! Edward knew to come not because he has mind-reading capabilities or he just happened to be wandering around in the woods with a gun (duh), but you'll find out later. Keep reading, and PLEASE review and spread the word!
