Thank you to my beta, xx-twilight7-xx, for letting me bugging her on her holiday. LOL. You are awesome!

Chapter 3

The Hales

I ate my lunch with a feeling of unease. The image of the man, I mean Edward, kept playing in my mind. I was sure he knew I would be here today. But why did he have to look at me like that? And I must say, he only looked at me, not any of the other volunteers. Did he know my intention in this place was not just to help?

After lunch, the staff told us to assist the kids. We were all split up to find the kids who needed our help. Surprisingly, I had the chance to stay with Margaret this afternoon. She was a sweet girl and brilliant. I reminded myself to read more about social knowledge before I got the chance to have my moment with her again. I was thinking that Margaret would be the most suitable candidate for my subject because her case was interesting. How someone so intelligent could make a hasty decision to end her own life. Basically the more intelligent someone was, the person will have matured mentality. Margaret's case was different and that was why it will be interesting.

I spent my afternoon with Margaret, just listening to her story and sometimes cracking jokes with her. I said to myself once again, she probably looked healthy in the outside, but she was broken on the inside. I could tell by the way her eyes were flashing with sadness whenever she spoke about her parents or her family. I just hoped my presence could make her felt much better, that she will know that she still had someone who wanted to listen to her.

I went home at 5 pm after saying goodbye to Margaret and promising her that I will be back on Monday. I bid goodbye to Angela too, the only volunteer that I knew for the day. I didn't get the chance to know the others because they were all busy with their own kids. Alice was drawing some sketches in our room when I got home.

"So, how's your first day?' She asked me without removing her eyes from her sketch.

I exhaled and threw myself to my bed. "Exhausting, but interesting. I had the chance to know Margaret."

"Oh...the IQ girl?"

I smiled slightly. "Yes, the IQ girl. She is amazing and sweet girl. She could become my subject."

Alice turned around and looked at me. "Could? Is there another person?"

I looked up at the ceiling. I don't know why my thoughts kept drifting back to Edward. Kate was right, though. All the kids were afraid of him. The lunch room fell silent when he arrived. But, when he looked at me, I felt something from him. Maybe there was something from me that made him interested in me? I shivered.

"I met Edward today."

"Edward? The man that you said to me before?" Alice asked me.

I nodded slowly, without removing my eyes from the ceiling.

"I thought the volunteers will not handle cases like him?"

I shook my head. "No, we're not. He was in the lunch room when all of us having our lunch too. A doctor was with him all along."

"Is it just me or are you interested in becoming your subject?"

I pursed my lips. "He could be the interesting subject."

I could hear Alice sigh. "Bella, I know you always want to have good grades. But, to put yourself in danger with someone with that kind of track record just for an A is not a wise move."

I rolled my eyes and looked to her. "It's not like that."

She raised her eyebrows. "Then, tell me what it's like."

"I just felt...he is different," My voice faltered in the end.

This time it was Alice who rolled her eyes. "Bella, all the kids there are different. Well, literary."

I nodded. Besides I was still on my first day, there are still more days to come. I was interested with Edward's case, but Alice was right. It's not worth the potential danger to myself just for an A.

"So, are you free tomorrow?"

"Yup. I just need to be there from Monday to Saturday. Sunday is my free time. Why did you ask?" I asked her curiously.

Alice smiled coyly. "Let's have our girl time, then. It will be great before you start to be a 'counselor' there," She quoted the word counselor with her fingers.

I rolled my eyes.

Alice successfully dragged me from my bed the next day. She insisted for us to shop at the mall. She said she needed to see the new trend in fashion. Yeah, right!

I split up with Alice at a dress store and aimlessly walked among the sophisticated clothes when I accidentally bumped into someone who just gotten out of a dressing room.

"Hey! Watch where you're going!"

A female voice said to me in harsh tone.

I blushed. "Sorry, I didn't see you." I looked over to the blond woman with blue eyes. She was beautiful and I instantly felt insignificant.

She eyed me and then flipped her hair. I almost rolled my eyes.

"Next time keep your eyes open," she said to me still in harsh tone, but she didn't look at me. Funny! She told me to keep my eyes open, but she didn't look at me when she spoke with me. I almost smiled. This woman was an egocentric one. She might look strong in the outside, but she was weak in the inside. Man! I love psychology.

I smiled with remorse. "I'm really sorry."

She huffed and turned away from me.

I sighed and started to look for Alice. I didn't think I could stay in this store any longer. I searched for Alice several times before spotting her at the cash register. She was standing with a tall blonde man and they seemed to be having an intense conversation. I exhaled in relief and walked to her. Alice giggled like a child when I approached her.

"Are you finished?" I asked her.

Alice turned to see me and smiled. Her eyes lit up with happiness. "Hey, Bella! I just want to pay for these clothes. Oh, I want you to meet Jasper." She turned to the blond man. "Jasper, this is my best friend, Bella."

The blond man smiled and extended his hand. "Hello, Bella, I'm Jasper Hale," He said to me with a thick southern accent. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

I smiled and shook his hand. "Hello, Jasper. I'm Bella Swan. It's nice to meet you too."

"Hey, Jazz. Are you finished? I'm hungry."

I recognized the voice and almost grimaced when I saw the blonde woman that I accidentally bumped earlier. This was going to be interesting.

Jasper looked over to the woman. "Yes, Rosalie. Why don't you come here for a moment? I want you to meet these ladies."

The blond woman, Rosalie, walked to us with bored expression. Her eyes widened when she saw me. "Oh," she said flatly.

Jasper smiled, ignoring the sour expression from her. "Alice, Bella, this is my twin sister. Rosalie Hale."

My eyebrows shot up. Twins?

Alice smiled. "It's very nice to meet you, Rosalie."

Rosalie rolled her eyes. "Yeah. Likewise." And then she turned back to Jasper. "I'm waiting at the car." She turned around without saying another thing to us.

Jasper sighed. "I'm sorry. She always acts like that to new people." And then he smiled to Alice. "I'll see you soon, Miss Brandon."

Alice giggled.

Jasper turned to me and nodded. "It's nice to meet you, Bella."

I smiled. "And the same to you."

He turned around and walked away from us. I turned my head to Alice and narrowed my eyes. "'I'll see you soon, Miss Brandon?' What is that suppose to mean?"

Alice blushed slightly. "Well...he was kind of...asking for my number."

I rolled my eyes. "I can't believe it. You found a date at the mall."

"Hey! He is a nice guy," Alice defended herself.

"He is, but I can't say the same about his twin. I can't imagine you dating him while I had to deal with his twin. Thanks a lot, Alice," I said in flat tone.

Alice rolled her eyes. "Oh, come on, Bella. It won't be that bad."

I went in silence while Alice paid for her clothes at the cashier. I was sure this was not the first time I would meet with The Hales.

Thank you for sticking with me in this new story...Sorry, if I didn't update so often because my computer was down and also this month is the fasting month for Moslems and I want to have some moments for myself :) Don't worry, I still continue the stories...all of them!

For my readers who had their exams...well, good luck * grins*

As always, kindly to leave your review ^^