Disclaimer: Not mine. Go figure.

Chapter 2
U of A

"Demetri," I called, entering my college dorm. I had been accepted to the University of Alaska. I just started attending the one in Anchorage. Believe it or not, I'm starting as Med student. Biology was my strongest subject, so I went to doctoring from there. I want to know how Carlisle feels when he saves a life. Also, knowing medicinal basics should come in very handy with training. I wasn't quite as invincible as a regular vampire, and got hurt very often. Maybe if I can treat myself, I won't have to put up with Demetri laughing as he drives me to the hospital.

Demetri came walking out of my closet. "Yes?"

"Do I even want to know why you were in my closet?"

"Actually," he said, playfully glaring at me, "I was just putting away your leather jacket."

I nodded, prepared to accept this excuse when it dawned on me. "Um, I don't have a leather jacket."

He reached into the closet and pulled one out. "Are you sure about that?"

I leapt forward and hugged him. "Oh, thank you so much!" I exclaimed.

He grinned. "You're very welcome. Now hurry up and go take a shower like I know you want to. Your first class starts in two hours."

I nodded and rushed into my bathroom. After my shower, I opened my door and held out my hand. Demetri handed me a stack of clothing and I closed the door once more. This was routine for us now. I was hardly ever allowed to pick out my clothing; Demetri enjoyed it too much.

After I got dressed, I glanced at my reflection in the mirror and rolled my eyes. Coming out of the bathroom, I said, "Good God, could you make me look a little more gothic. Seriously, isn't this a bit much."

"Not at all; you look very appetizing," he leered.

I rolled my eyes. "Let's try to remember I'm not human anymore."

He laughed. "Yes, I know, I know."

A thought struck me. "Say, how did you get assigned to my dorm room?" I asked.

"I convinced the pretty receptionist that you're chronically paranoid and that you had panic attacks if we didn't sleep in the same room."

I laughed. "So you have her thinking I'm a crazy psychopath. Great."

"Either that or you have a very horny boyfriend very good with excuses," he joked.

"Ah yes, the wonders of incest. Whatever would Aro say?"

"He called while you were out by the way," Demetri commented.

I glared at him. "And you didn't feel the need to mention this before?"

He ignored me. "He says to wish you good luck in your first class."

Demetri picked up my books, and his, and opened the door for me. He followed me into the hall and closed the door. We were headed for class.

"How are you going to handle being around all those humans during classes?" I asked with blatant curiosity.

"I'll have you know that I have just as much control around humans as the Cullens do," he said. I closed my eyes tightly, wishing away the horrible memories coming to mind. "Oh, I'm sorry Isabella. I forgot," he immediately apologized.

I shook my head. "No, it's ok," I mumbled. I opened my eyes a forced a smile. "I'm fine. Come on, let's go to class."

.xoxo.

"Did-we-have-to-do-this-tonight?" I asked, grunting as I took swings at the punching bag.

"Aro doesn't want a loss of training because of school."

"Of course not," I rolled my eyes.

"Besides, it's not like you need to rest anyway," he commented.

"I do still sleep," I corrected him.

"A mere technicality. You only sleep about once a month."

"Yeah, I'll have you know, before training, I could go two months without sleep. All this fighting is wearing me out," I complained.

"You'll live."

"If you wanna be technical about it," I said with a grin.

He cut me off, "Oh, you know what I meant."

After we finished training, I went to the local Starbucks. I was supposed to be meeting Angela. She was also attending U of A. Demetri had tried to follow me, but I told him to stay; I didn't feel like explaining my scary new Edward-like bodyguard.

"Bella!" I heard someone call. With a smile, I turned to face Angela. She ran forward and embraced me. I wrapped my arms around her and hugged her back. "How've you been?" she inquired.

"Pretty good," I responded. "And yourself?"

"Great. Ben says hello. He wanted to come, but I told him it was girl time only."

I laughed. "I still can't believe you both ended up here."

She nodded. "I know! I can't believe he turned down Princeton for me."

"I can't believe you turned down Princeton for me," I interjected. She blushed.

"Well, I mean… I didn't want you to be… you were…" she trailed off, not finishing her thoughts, although I knew what she had meant to say. It was her way of making sure I was ok; of making sure I didn't turn catatonic again. She didn't want me to be alone.

I nodded slowly. "I know why you did it," I said softly. "And I thank you for it."

We talked for a few minutes about our lives; I accidentally slipped up and mentioned Demetri.

"Demetri? Who's that?" she asked curiously.

"He's my brother," I said instantly, the first thing that came to mind.

"Brother? I didn't know you had a brother! Why didn't he go to Forks?"

I raised my hand to halt her questions. "Yes, he's my older brother. He was bad in health growing up, and when I was sent to Forks, he had to stay behind because the rainy weather was bad for his health." I amazed myself at how easily the lies came now that I was a vampire.

She nodded. "Yes, I suppose that's understandable."

We talked for a while longer and only decided to leave when Starbucks was closing. I insisted on walking her back to her dorm; there was no way I was letting her walk alone at night. I was, essentially, hunted. When the 'evil' vampires had learned of the stregoni benefici, they, coven by coven, began to seek me out to destroy me. I never knew when one would be in town, and I didn't want to risk Angela being hurt because of me.

I walked her back to her dorm, and then headed for mine, which was, inconveniently, across the campus. I was keenly aware of someone following me. I took an unnecessary turn and he – I could tell by his heavy steps – continued to follow me. I turned for the last time into a dark alley between two of the school buildings so no one would see us, and spun around at an inhumane speed to face my stalker, muscles tensed, ready to attack.

The boy started and stepped back. It was then that I recognized his face; Mike Newton. My body relaxed.

"Good God Mike, you're going to give me a heart attack," I scolded. "What are you thinking, following me around at night?"

"Sorry," he replied, a faint blush coming to his cheeks. "I didn't know you were attending to U of A."

I nodded. "Yeah, I'm a Med student." I was silently begging for an excuse to get away from Mike without sounding rude. As if on cue, my cell phone rang and I breathed a sigh of relief.

"Yes, Demetri?" I answered, flipping it open.

"You're late," his voice said through the phone. "Were you attacked?" he asked curiously, a trace of anxiousness in his tone.

"No, no, I'm fine. I just ran into an old friend from Forks. I'll see you in a few minutes," I replied before closing the phone.

"Demetri?" he questioned, jealously clear in his voice.

"My brother," I said. Before he could speak, I continued. "I should really get going. I was supposed to be meeting him. I'll see you later, Mike."

Author's Note: Thanks to everyone that reviewed. I'm glad you all like the story.

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