Here's the next chapter. For those of you reading who have also read Dark and Light, the speed at which I update is going to start wavering quite soon. Exams are coming up, and I'll have less time to write. Then I'll be flying off to Belgium, where we only have one computer for the family, so I don't know how often I'll be updating. I'll try get as much done as I can right now so I don't have to worry about it later.

Also, about the diary entries... I don't know how other people write in their diaries. I've been writing in mine the same way for ages, but I can't write the way I'd write. I tried to get into Bella's mindset. I don't know if it worked.

But here it is. Enjoy!

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My mind was swimming with images and words and thoughts when I'd finally put down Bella's diary that night. All guilt for reading it had surpassed me as I sunk deeper and deeper into her world.

It confused me, the way she wrote about Edward. She would love him and hate him at the same time and wish to be noticed by him but wish to ignore him all together. I'd never seen anyone care so much about an other person and their opinions so rapidly. Like she was drawn to him. I knew the story worked out happily, because of the pictures and because of what my mother told me, but at this moment it seemed as if the tale was going in a marginally different direction.

I'd followed as far as March 2d, when 3 different guys had asked Bella to the dance, and each time she'd let them down. But every other sentence would somehow be about Edward, how annoying it was of him to hold up traffic to give Tyler his chance. I smiled at how hard she tried to ignore and dislike him, and how miserably she failed. They were going to fall for each other, I knew, and they would fall damn hard, too.

Soon enough, though, it became late, and night threatened to shut me down; I needed sleep. I hid the diary under my mattress again, and easily drifted into my dream world, strangely not void of Bella's thoughts and expressions and ideas.

There were images of Edward, and of Bella. But in my dream, both of them looked different. Changed, somehow. Edward looked the same, only the adoring look in his eyes that I'd only seen in one of his pictures seemed to have become permanently manifested in his eyes as he spent time with Bella… who's beauty seemed glorified and magnified times a thousand. It was curious, her transformation. I followed them as they walked through the endless woods together.

And then a stream of light came flooding through the trees in front of me, and I opened my eyes. It was morning. I sat up and stretched, yawning. I rubbed at my eyes as I headed to the bathroom to shower and brush my teeth.

I went through my morning rituals quickly, eager to further indulge myself in Bella's world. There was nothing on my schedule today- the house was ready, I'd already been enrolled in my new school. I had more than a week to acquaint myself with town- and with Bella.

After a quick breakfast that I rushed through, I grabbed the diary and headed towards my hammock. My parents wouldn't be home for most of the day—they wouldn't bother me. With a mug of coffee in one hand, the diary in the other, I opened up and excitedly started reading.

March 3d, 2005.

You're never going to believe what happened today- I'm shocked, myself. It started when Edward invited me to sit with him at lunch. I was with Jessica when he did his "come hither" thing. I couldn't believe my ears. I actually had the nerve to go over there and sit across from him at that table, just us two! It was a strange conversation we had. He said some things that really confuse me. He's trying to get this message across that he's dangerous, and that's he's bad. I don't understand how he could be. I would never be scared of him, or consider him a bad person. It wouldn't make sense of me to do so. I just… it's so strange. Why would he consider himself evil, or dangerous? What does he have to hide? I want to find out, but it'd be rude. Then he told me he was tired of staying away from me. Is that good or bad? Another cryptic remark, but I could feel my entire face go red. Anyways, he then informed he was skipping Biology that day- and with good reason. We were blood testing. I felt nauseated before anyone had even pricked their finger, Mike Newton took me to the office. And who else to show up but Edward, picking me right up off the floor and taking me to the office himself. He got me out of Gym class while he was at it. And then… and then he drove me home. The first song he put in was Claire de Lune! We spent the car-ride talking, mostly. It's amazing how much we have in common… But when I asked him to come to First Beach with us, he kind of wormed his way out of it. I wonder what it means; I can't say I'm not disappointed he's not coming. He said he was going camping with his brother, Emmett. Is that an excuse? Or do they really go camping? Regardless, his brother's pretty scary. I hope the beach won't be too bad; Mike's really excited about me going. I might need to talk to him about that, but I don't look forward to it. The one thing I did notice, though, was that Edward's eyes were a deep gold today. It's like he has contacts or something, I don't get it. It's like when he's in a bad mood, they're pitch black. When he's doing okay, they're this beautiful topaz color. It's another one of those strange things I just don't get…

I put Bella's journal down for a second, to put my coffee mug in the kitchen, and to ponder over that day's events. They sat together at lunch! And he drove her home! I grinned in spite of myself. But it didn't dilute the oddness of his comments; him being bad for her, but tired of trying to stay away from her? I racked my brain to try understand what it meant. And that Mike Newton was really getting on my last nerve.

I dashed back to my hammock, where the diary laid waiting for me. I'd brought some supplies: water, some fruit. I was probably going to be stuck here all day, I wouldn't want to be withdrawn from reading for too long. There was still such a long way to go! Nibbling on an apple, I proceeded. March 4th.

March 4th, 2005.

I know it's ridiculous of me, I really do. But today I walked into the cafeteria, and I found myself immediately scanning the room for Edward. Is it ridiculous of me to do that? The rest of the day was kind of uneventful. Lauren has been making some comments about me to Mike. I'm glad he's a loyal friend, even if he comes on too strong. I don't understand what I did to make Lauren hate me, though. She said something about the Cullens. I guess she took it personally that Edward and I sat together, but I don't think that's fair at all.

Eagerly, I skipped ahead to the next entry. A day at the beach with Mike and the others was bound to have interesting results, was it not?

March 5th, 2005.

Going to First Beach was a good idea. Really, a good idea. I discovered… the strangest things. It was okay for the most part, until Jacob Black came along. I hadn't recognized him, but he's Billy's son. We sat down, and we talked, and he told me some interesting stuff. About Edward, and Edward's family. I suppose I should start at the beginning… When I got back from the tide pools, there were some of the La Push kids. Lauren asked something about Edward, and one of the Quileutes said that they didn't come here. I asked Jacob about it. Or well, I tried to flirt it out of him. It worked, though. He started telling me all of these Quileute legends. Their tribe is the Quileutes and all that. Apparently, there are these…creatures. They call them "the cold ones." They're like…vampires. And, well… According to Jacob and to the legends… Edward's family is a family of vampires. But they don't feed off of humans. Only off of animals. Jacob told me this. He told me it was just legend, and he didn't believe in it. I'd like to not believe it, myself. But something is off about Edward and his family. The eye color, the ethereal beauty, his warnings. I know I sound absolutely crazy. But… I don't know it just seems too coincidental for me to ignore. I don't know, this is all so strange. Should I say something to Edward about it, and see what he says? I'm not sure what to do. I'm not even sure he still wants to talk to me.

I had to re-read that entry about three times to comprehend what Bella was saying. I almost laughed at the absurdity of it. Vampires? I snorted. Hah, please. Vampires? No way. The little voice in my head laughed at me for considering it. I turned the page to the next entry, looking for perhaps some clarification from Bella, about what she just wrote.

March 6th, 2005.

I had the worst dream last night. A nightmare, more like. I was looking for the sun, and Mike was there. And Jacob. Jacob came out of nowhere, warning me to run. And then Edward came from the forest, his teeth pointy, emitting white light. He looked downright scary, but he just went "Trust me." That was when Jacob intervened. Jacob, in the form of a wolf. It was so strange. So when I woke up, I looked them up. Vampires, I mean. Nothing seems to fit. Whatever applies to the Cullens doesn't apply to vampire myths the world over… Except for one. Stregoni benifici, the good vampire. Edward is good, he really is. Maybe it's true and he's one of those. Either way… He's not human. The entire family isn't human. In the end, I guess this could go two ways. He's warned me thousands of times before; I could follow his advice. I thought about it. But for some reason, I don't think I could survive without Edward now. I know it just sounds so silly, but it's like I can't go back to the way it was without him around. He's made his mark on me, it's irreversible. That leaves me with one more option; I could stick around. He's had thousands of chances to hurt me, but he hasn't. That has to count for something. But whatever he is, it doesn't matter. I'm not letting this go.

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Cheerio, -Mint.