I don't own the twilight saga. Stephenie Meyer does. (If you don't know what parts of this writing is hers, go read the books. You know you want to!)

Chapter 2 - Confusion

'What do you mean?'

'You know! Like a scientific experiment!'

I blinked stupidly at her.

'Clones?' My voice was full of disbelief.

'Yes. You know, like that sheep, when they took the DNA and...'

'Ok, I get what you mean by clones. But seriously, why would someone want to create clones?'

'I don't know, do I! But they sure creep me out.'

Footsteps on the sand had us turning round, me with a sheepish face, and Louise still looking a little scared. 'Hey.' It was Alan. 'Why'd you run off like that?' His attempt at looking pathetic was starting to wear on me.

'Just needed a girl talk.' That made him look hopeful. Sugar. 'Erm, Louise hear is.. um, she's scared of...' Louise darted me a horrified look. 'Marshmallows.' They both stared at me in disbelief. 'You know, how they look all gooey when they burn...' I looked at Louise in desperation. This has got to be the worst excuse I've ever made.

'Erm, yeah, that. It made me need some fresh air.' Her face was a picture. I hoped Alan didn't spread news of her supposed fear.

'Oh, ok then.' Alan didn't look entirely convinced. 'Well, if that's all, mind if I hang out here with you guys?' Ooh dear, this wasn't good. We were standing rigidly just insight of the fire, us girls staring out to sea, and I could feel Alan's too eager eyes on my face.

Luckily, the five tall, dark men approached us. Or maybe not luckily for Louise, who let out a little squeak and stood closer to me. Oh right, these were the 'clone' boys. Up close, they weren't identical. They just shared the same skin tone, hair colour, were all very tall, well built, and gorgeous.

I gapped at them. It wasn't that I didn't trust Louise, I just thought she had been misinformed. No way were these guys a scientific experiment. They were too human, gently play fighting amongst themselves. Two of them even picked up a third and tried to through him in the ocean. That made me giggle – and three sets of eyes focused on my face. Louise's were shocked and a little betrayed, Alan's sickly sweet (what was with this guy? I'd barely met him), and a new set of eyes from one of the two remaining newcomers. Yet somehow, these eyes, the eyes of a huge, russet skinned man, were different.

I'd never seen anything like it. Something in his eyes was old, much too old to fit the youth of his body. In his gaze there was kindness and beauty, pain and grief, laughter and everything that makes the world go round. I stood there, transfixed, doubtless with my mouth hanging open, like an idiot.

Then he smiled at me. It was like sunrise, new and fresh, and spectacular. What was he so in awe of? Certainly it wasn't me, so I looked over my shoulder – a good excuse to hide to blush I could feel spreading across my face. No way did I want to look like a tomato right now! I cursed the paleness of my skin.

It was slightly awkward, him staring at me, and neither of us saying anything. Then there was a loud splash, making me jump. The man opposite me cursed under his breath, and ran to the sea to drag out a rather sodden, furious man.

'What did you do that for? You know Claire will be furious if we bring Quil back in a bad mood. She hasn't forgiven us for last time.' The guy with the breath-taking eyes was all but shouting at the others. Louise, Alan and I watched from afar, unnoticed.

'Sorry Embry' one of the culprits grinned. 'We couldn't resist.'

'Come on bro, at least we didn't dump Paul in' his partner in crime grinned at the fifth man, who up till now had simply been watching the events unfolding.

'Collin, you know very well that it would take more than you, Brandy and Embry here to get me in the sea.' Paul said smugly.

'You calling me weak, Pauline?' snarled Quil

'Cool it guys!' laughed the guy with the eyes – Embry. An unusual name, but it suited him. He was so different – and that was definitely different in a good way.

'Ugh' Quil really didn't sound pleased. 'What are you so happy about bro?'

It was strange. Embry looked oddly guilty, unsure, and as if he was trying look everywhere except from at me. He didn't succeed though, and I felt a jolt as our eyes met again. This time his smile was goofy, and I couldn't help but grin back at this intriguing stranger.

Today seemed to be fully of new experiences. Deafening laughter shouldn't have shocked me so much, but the sight of four grown, very masculine men doubled over in glee seemed to numb my mind a little. Weren't those guys bickering only a few seconds ago? What was so funny?

'Awh, bro, there'll be no more teasing Jake and me after this you know.' Quil looked like a child on Christmas morning.

An arm snaked around my shoulders, and I looked up into Paul's mischievous grin. 'Why, hello little lady.'

Embry growled. I don't mean human pathetic noises of frustration. I mean full on body shaking, harsh vibrations that should have terrified me. In fact, they did terrify poor Louise, who was shaking too – but from fear not anger. I felt like I should be comforting them both, but I simply had no idea what was going on. I signed up for a gap year in a quiet area of a different country, to experience a different culture. This was so far from normal, my brain sort of shut down. I suppose it was from shock.

A loud sigh interrupted my internal confusion. Quil shook his sodden hair over the lot of us, then grabbed both Embry and Paul, and started dragging them towards the surrounding forest. The other two joined in and eventually Louise, Alan and I were left alone on the beach.

'You guys are so weird' Alan sulked, and wondered off to sit by the fire. It surprised me that no one else had noticed the exchange, but then the group around the fire were making a fair amount of noise themselves'.

Louise and I simply gawked at each other. Tonight really hadn't gone to plan.

This is my first fanfiction, so please review!