Chapter 4

The Stranger

Bella's Point of View

I turned to see a man walking towards us with black hair and green eyes. He seemed fairly human; I could even hear a heartbeat and smell his human scent. I felt Edward stiffen behind me.

"Jaden." Edward greeted curtly. I looked up at Edward with curious eyes. How did he know this guy?

"Ah, Edward. It's so good to see you again. And who is this beauty beside you?" I turned to look back into the green eyes of this…thing.

"This is Bella." Edward introduced me quickly.

"It is a pleasure to meet you Bella. I am Jaden, an old friend of Edward's." Jaden walked forward and raised my hand to his lips. He placed a gentle kiss on it and I just watched him warily. Why didn't Edward like him? He seemed perfectly nice to me.

"Nice to meet you too." I replied. Jaden winked before turning to look Edward in the eye.

"Is the family inside?" He asked. Edward nodded once. Jaden smiled a huge smile; I swear his face was going to fall apart.

"Lovely. I'll just…pop in shall I?" Jaden walked right past us and into the house. Edward grabbed my arm and started dragging me down towards the forest. I gasped at the contact, not because his hand was cold, not it wasn't very cold to me. It was just that it felt like an electric shock when he touched me.

"You have to get out of here Bella." Edward whispered through tight lips.

"What?" I demanded loudly.

"Shhh!" He hissed. We had stopped just a little way into the forest. "You have to get out of here, Bella. Run away from the town or something, Jaden is dangerous!" Edward told me hastily.

"Edward!" Jaden called out.

"Go Bella!" Edward hissed quickly. I took his advice and ran. But where was I supposed to go? I couldn't leave just yet. Mom and dad wouldn't be too happy if I just…left. I decided to run back to my place and pack my things, ready to leave.

- - -

An hour later my parents returned with smiles on their faces.

"We have great news Bella." Dad announced.

"What's that, dad?" I asked warily.

"We have company." Behind him I saw the familiar black hair. Jaden. He was here and he was staying. I doubt I'd be able to get away now. Jaden stepped around my father and towered over my 5'4" with his 6' something.

"Nice to see you again, Bella." Jaden smiled at me.

"Hi." I really didn't see what was so dangerous about this man.

"Time for you to go to bed, Bella. See you in the morning." Mom stated quickly.

"Night mom. Night dad." I whispered, hugging them quickly before hurrying upstairs. I grabbed my clothes and headed for the bathroom, I had a quick shower, brushed my teeth, brushed my hair and changed my clothes before heading back into my room. I almost screamed when I got to my room. Almost. A hand clamped over my mouth.

"Shhh, Bella. It's just me." Edward's velvety voice whispered in my ear. I turned around.

"What are you doing here?" I hissed at him.

"Why didn't you run?" Edward demanded in a harsh whisper.

"How is he dangerous?" I asked back.

"Just trust me, Bella. He's dangerous and you can't stay here." Edward warned me.

"I can't run without giving my parents notice."

"Bella. You have to. You have to go now. It's not safe for you to be around him." I was about to reply, but the door opened and closed and Jaden made his grand entrance.

"I'm sorry, I heard voices and thought I should come up here and investigate." Jaden said. Edward glared at him with pure anger. What had Jaden done to Edward to make Edward hate him so much? "Edward. What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be home with your family? Besides, Bella here needs her rest." Jaden flashed me a quick smile and I shifted uncomfortably. Edward looked at me with a long pleading glance before disappearing out my window. He wanted me to run and I knew it.

"Don't worry about Edward. He's just jealous." I jumped at Jaden's voice. I hadn't noticed that he had come closer to me.

"W-what?" I stuttered.

"I said, don't worry about Edward. He's just jealous." He smiled at me again. It was kind of…dazzling in a way.

"J-jealous?" I stuttered again. What was with me and all this stuttering? It's not like I like him or anything…did I?

"Yeah. Like I said, don't worry about him and I'm not dangerous." Jaden winked at me before walking towards the door. "Good night Bella. Have a good sleep."

"Night Jaden." I had climbed into bed just as Jaden turned off the light and shut the door.

"You'll be mine someday." I froze at that. It was Jaden's voice coming through the door. I was scared. But that quickly turned to anger. His? I would be his? What was with people claiming everyone? I wasn't something to be claimed. I wasn't a possession that sits on the shelf and is just admired.

- - -

I woke up and got ready quickly. I stormed downstairs and started eating. Jaden was there in the dining room, reading the newspaper.

"Good morning Bella." I ignored him. I wouldn't be his if he determined to claim me as some sort of possession. "Are you all right?" He asked again and once again, I ignored him. I quickly ate my food, grabbed my bag and headed to my car. I drove off to the school without a single word to Jaden. I was heading to class when I ran into Edward, and I mean literally ran into Edward.

"Well aren't you the little clumsy one…but what are you doing here?" Edward frowned down at me.

"I didn't run. I couldn't." I whispered in response as I tried to get to my first class, but Edward grabbed my elbow and held onto it, holding me back.

"What do you mean, 'I couldn't do it', Bella? You have to get away from here! Jaden isn't safe!"

"Tell me why and then I'll go."

"Lunch." I groaned and walked off in the direction of my class. I walked into English and sat down, the boy I had met on my first day sat next to me.

"Hey Bella." Mike greeted me.

"Mike." I was hoping he would go away, but he wouldn't.

"So…I saw you and Cullen talking this morning." He started. I shrugged. He didn't need to know what was going on and he wouldn't know. Not now or ever. "What did he want? He doesn't usually talk to anyone outside of his family." I glared at Mike. Why did he feel it his right to go and stick his nose into other peoples business? Did he think that I was his as well?

"That's personal and you don't need to worry about what Edward and I discussed." I replied coldly before turning my attention to the teacher.

Lunch couldn't come quick enough, finally when I got into the cafeteria I sat down in my usual place and grabbed a bit of food to eat. I was eating my apple and staring at the ceiling again when I heard a voice that I didn't really want to hear.

"Why don't you come sit with us today?" Mike offered.

"No thanks." I replied.

"Then I'll sit with you." He grabbed the back of the chair, ready to pull it out, but my words stopped him and my glare.

"I said, no thanks, Mike." Mike huffed angrily and stormed off. Couldn't the boy take a hint? I continued to look at the ceiling, waiting patiently.

"Is the ceiling still really that interesting to you?" I looked to see Edward sitting across from me, smirking at me.

"Explain." I demanded. Edward sighed.

"Jaden is dangerous because he's a vampire. He's not like us or your parents…he's –" Edward started to explain in a low voice, but was instantly cut off by Jaden's voice.

"I'm not dangerous and I'm not a vampire, Edward. Not like you." Jaden stated with a low cold voice, just like Edward's. Jaden sat down next to me and I instantly shifted away. I still didn't like him. Edward glared at Jaden.

"What are you doing here?" Edward demanded in a low cold voice.

"Coming to school. Duh. I enrolled." Jaden smirked at Edward. "So Bella, why have you been ignoring me all day?" Jaden asked. Edward raised an eyebrow at me as I stood up and walked around the table to sit next to Edward. Jaden glared at me as I did this.

"Just something you said is bothering me." I stated before taking another bite of my apple. Jaden leaned forward and rested his arms on the table.

"Oh? And what might that be?" Jaden asked.

"You'll be mine someday." I mimicked his voice perfectly. Jaden leaned back with eyes wide in surprise.

"How did you hear that? It was way to low for someone like you to hear." Jaden stated. I smirked at him.

"I have my ways." The bell rang and Edward and I rose to go to Biology. Jaden stopped Edward quickly and warned him in a low voice.

"Don't you dare even think about taking her away from me." I laughed and continued walking while Jaden stared after me in surprise. He wasn't going to figure out what I was right now, but I was going to figure what he was out soon enough.

SNEAK PEAK INTO CHAPTER 5

He pulled away and I looked up at him in confusion. "Until we meet again." He whispered before he disappeared.