This chapter is where the whole story actually begins. The other two was just background information and the setting.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, plots, similar events, etc. in Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, or Breaking Dawn. SM owns.
Bella's PoV
I only had to drop my books off and grab the purse I never used so I had time to spare, unneeded time. I wrote a quick note to Charlie, explaining where I would be and what there was for dinner. I ended up paced around my empty kitchen straightening out all the cans in one of the cabinets and focusing on the labels, just for something to do. Three thirty did not come soon enough. I was in the middle of fixing the can of refried beans when I heard a car horn beep. I grabbed my purse and bolted out the door. I was never so glad to see Jessica in my entire life.
We greeted each other with a short 'Hey' as I slid into the passenger seat. I put on my seatbelt with a soft click and glanced at Jessica. I was hoping she would start talking about something pointless and I could try to listen, throwing my mind off, but she was silent. By the time we reached Angela's I was frantic. What if she didn't talk the whole way and I was stuck to drown deeper in my sorrows? I just couldn't have that.
When Angela got strapped in and Jessica took off I turned my head to face the driver's seat, ready to say something that would get Jess off on her usual rant. "So what dress are you planning to get?" That did it. Jessica's face lit up and she went into a detailed description of her perfect dress and making Mike find a tuxedo that would match it. I focused on picturing each thing she described, letting that be the only picture to form.
We got into Port Angeles around four thirty and passed the picturesque boardwalk, heading straight to the department store. Even in a bigger town their selections of dresses were rather slim. Fortunately, Jess and Angela were able to pick out a couple they liked and walked into the dressing room, Jessica moving her topic onto boys.
"It's too bad you didn't ask Edward, Bella. You could've been trying dresses on with us." Her tone was a bit sarcastic, but I figured I may be going paranoid. My insides turned and squirmed giving me the nasty nauseated feeling which I had been trying to avoid.
I decided to play dumb. "What do you mean?"
"Oh come on Bella. We all see the way to stare at him during lunch every day. Today you had this sour look on and I bet you it was because he wasn't there." The sad thing was, she was right.
There was a pause while I tried to think of some logical excuse as to why I always had a sour look on my face when he wasn't in school. "Oh wow, Jessica you should see my dress!" Angela exclaimed in pure unrealistic shock as she darted out of her stall. I could tell what she was doing as she glanced in my direction and I was grateful. Jessica had walked out of her stall and started commenting on Angela's pale pink dress that draped down her tall figure nicely. I joined in, generously complimented Jessica on the blue knee-length dress she had on and our past conversation was forgotten. Thankfully. The throbbing in my chest had not gone away and I still felt as if I was going to be sick, though I dared not say anything in fear the subject would return.
The shoes and accessories were next, which left a whole new thing to talk about so I was in the clear for now. Jessica ended up buying rhinestone jewelry that matched her silver shoes and Angela bought a pair of pink heels. The whole trip took less time than expected and we ended up on the boardwalk. It was too early to eat; we were planning on going to a small Italian diner that overlooked the beach. I told them that I wanted to go find a bookstore since I had some money to spend. They offered to go with me but I refused, they had no idea how enclosed I get when I am surrounded by books, so I set off on my own.
The bookstore that they had showed me wasn't the kind I was looking for. The dream catchers and voodoo dolls hanging from the ceiling put me off at once. There has to be another one around here. I got off the boardwalk to wonder around town to find another store. It took me a while and eventually I got lost and in downtown too. The stores were boarded up and there were broken windows. It started to get cold as the sun set and by five forty-five I was shivering and scared. These were not the kind of streets that I wanted to get lost on.
I tried turning around and going the other way but I ended up turning when I wasn't supposed to. I was about to call Jessica for directions back to the boardwalk, figuring she'd know more about Port Angeles than me. That's when I heard the cry for help. I ran as fast as my feet could take me two blocks until I turned the corner and stopped dead in my tracks.
There was a young girl, about a year or so younger than me lying on the ground, motionless. At the end of the alleyway there was a bulky guy who was being held by his neck, his feet a few inches above the ground. I knew the guy that was holding the stranger by the neck, I could tell by the gorgeous bronze hair and the surprisingly pale skin. What was Edward doing holding a man by his neck and an unconscious girl at his feet?
My footsteps must have tipped Edward off because his head whipped around until he was staring at me, and he frightened me. His face was livid, his lips plastered into a grimace, and his eyes were a coal black. He had a hungry look in his eyes, as if he was about to eat the guy. His teeth were barred, giving him a sinister feel to him. I was frightened, I wanted to run but my muscles locked.
Edward dropped the guy and with a gust of wind a sickening smell filled my nostrils; blood. My head was getting light and I felt like I was going to be sick. A harsh, malicious growl brought me jumping back into reality just in time to see Edward's body turn in my direction and slowly crouch down. It took a minute for me to realize he was going to attack me! I didn't have time to run, it wouldn't have helped anyway; I would've tripped. The useless thought calmed some of my nerves but not enough for me not to scream. Edward took one stride forward then lunged straight at me.
