Chapter 7

A/N:

Thank you to everyone who is reading my story. This is my first fan fic and though I know it's a little different I hope you are all enjoying it. If so, please leave me a review. It certainly is good motivation!

Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer owns Bella and Edward and all things Twilight. No copyright infringement is intended by my little twist on the story.ers

The next few days were torture. Though the weather was beyond perfect with sunny, hot skies that stretched on forever, my mood was grey. Bella hadn't been at school for two days and I found it near impossible to keep thoughts of her from invading my mind. I was impatient to see her again. I worried that I had made it all up – that her beauty, her mystery, the glimpse into her irresistibly complex mind was all a figment of my overactive imagination.

I kept thinking of the huge guy that she rode off with – how she'd wrapped her arms around his body familiarly, possessively. I wondered if she was in love with him. I worried that I had no hope of stealing Bella away from him. I couldn't possibly compete with him – he was undoubtedly physically my superior in every way. Besides his mammoth build, he had a dark, exotic look that seemed to compliment Bella. I knew that I paled in comparison. It was not in my nature to break up a couple. Esme raised me better than that. But this was Bella and I just couldn't stop myself from wanting her.

I was only physically present in my classes, barely conscious of the people around me. However, I couldn't entirely avoid everyone. Jessica Stanley, had apparently decided that she was going to "accidentally" bump into me between all my classes. I tried to resist showing my irritation at her obvious attempts to flirt with me. She was annoying, but harmless and I had nothing in particular against her.

Emmett had noticed Jessica's interest in me, among the few other girls who sent leering gazes my way. He always liked to tease me about how easily I attracted the attention of the girls in the many schools we had attended. I usually found it a nuisance and just tried to ignore the giggles, the notes, and the ogling. Sometimes I dated just to keep all the other girls away. But I wouldn't do that anymore.

For some reason, this time all the unwanted attention actually made me angry and I painted a permanent scowl on my face. Emmett even noticed that I was impervious to his taunting and gave up trying to embarrass me in the hallways.

Alice was normally very observant and though I know she sensed that I was moodier than normal for me, she was preoccupied with Jasper. They were almost instantly, completely devoted to one another. They were joined at the hip and despite the newness of their relationship, it just seemed natural.

Even though she wasn't there for me like always, I had to admit that I liked Jasper immensely. He was very smart but thoroughly laid back and easy to be around. What I liked most about him though, was his attentiveness to Alice and his easy acceptance of her quirkiness. He quickly became a fixture at our house, easily charming his way into our lives.

By the time school was over on Friday, I reconciled myself to the idea that I may never see Bella Swan again. And if I did, she might be with her huge handsome beast of a boyfriend. It was the second beautiful, sunny day in a row, a rarity in Forks, and I spent the better part of the afternoon sitting out on our back porch, trying to absorb as much sun as I could before it disappeared behind the omnipresent rainclouds.

I had been stretched out on the wooden deck for fifteen minutes or so when I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being watched. I propped myself up on my elbows and peered into the tree line that edged the yard but even as my eyes adjusted to the shadows, I only saw green – trees, branches, leaves, and the varied foliage of the forest.

I slid back down, closing my eyes and relaxing my body as much as I could on the hard wood surface beneath me. I began to hum lightly, a mixture of melodies – some classical phrases, weaving a song that I'd heard on radio into the nameless tune, and back to a familiar piece that I knew on the piano.

And then I snapped up to a sitting position. I had been humming, but the melody was already in my head – the music was not from my mind, but had been placed there. I couldn't explain it. Except – could it be Bella? I searched the trees again, squinting into where the forest stretched into the darkness, but again there was nothing.

Had I fallen asleep? Did I imagine it? No, I was certain, that the music in my mind was not from my mind, but it was someone else's thoughts. I sat looking out into the trees for several more minutes before Emmett interrupted my stupor.

"Hey man, you're coming to the bonfire tonight, right? I mean you seem kinda…I don't know seem unhappy, man. You need to get out."

"Yeah, sure, I'll go. It sounds cool." I said, thinking that I really did need a distraction. I felt like I might go crazy sitting around by myself with only my mind to keep me company. I didn't really trust myself.

*

The fog had rolled back in by nighttime and it was a chilly night. I put on a turtleneck sweater and my black canvas coat and grabbed a wool blanket before heading out to Emmett's Jeep. Rosalie was sitting in the passenger seat and so I climbed into the backseat to find that I was not alone. A girl who I recognized from one of my classes – Calculus – smiled hungrily at me, batting her eyelashes for effect.

Rosalie rotated in her seat. "Edward, do you know Lauren?"

"Um, no, hi Lauren," I extended my hand to shake hers and found my hand her prisoner – she shook way too long, squeezing my hand in an uncomfortably familiar way. I nearly yanked it back, Lauren seemingly oblivious that she filled me with repulsion. Emmett swiveled in his seat, smiling widely. "Are we all ready to go?" he asked as he looked over at me. I shot daggers at him but he only shrugged and turned back around, revving the engine and peeling out of the driveway.

The drive to the beach was one of the longest of my life. It was more than awkward. I was surprised at how painful it was to witness the not so subtle interaction between Rosalie and my brother as she leaned in seductively to whisper directions in his ear, touching his arm, draping her long, blond hair over his shoulder. I couldn't deny that I was jealous of their relationship, their easy rapport, their obvious physical connection with one another.

I was aware that Lauren too sensed the sexual energy that filled the car and took every opportunity to look wantonly in my direction. She took advantage of every bump and jolt of the Jeep to squirrel closer to me, so that by the time we finally arrived at the beach her arm was mashed up next to mine. I had shifted myself to the very edge of the seat to avoid her and yet as I peeled myself out of the car and away from her, her artificial, cheap perfumed scent lingered on my jacket.

I followed Emmett who was trailing Rosalie down the dark beach, stumbling on the drifts of lumpy sand. My senses were immediately awakened by the onslaught of the moist, salty air. I marveled that there was no scent more recognizable and even though my eyes couldn't see the ocean before me, I was certain of its existence.

My peaceful reflections didn't last long as I was rudely interrupted by a squeaking voice behind me. Lauren came huffing up to my side, she clearly had been struggling to catch up and as I reluctantly turned to her I was mildly sobered by the fear in her expression.

"Hey, wait for me Edward. It's really dark and I hurt my foot."

I examined her more closely and noticed that she did seem to be limping. Despite my innate desire to flee as far from her as possible, I couldn't see any way out of helping her. My conscience wouldn't allow it. I slowed my pace and reached over, grabbing her gently by the elbow so that I could assist her down the beach.

I could see the light of the bonfire ahead and the voices of others were carried to us on the wind. I moved us forward in the darkness and though it irritated me that I was stuck with Lauren, I thought she genuinely was scared and needed my help. We were almost at the circle of fire when I stopped abruptly – there was a sound piercing the quiet of my mind – a feral growl. It was angry and animalistic and I yanked my arm away from Lauren, dropped to my knees and covered my ears with my hands.

With this brusque action I unintentionally knocked Lauren forward to the ground. I could sense her floundering in the sand next to me but I was so consumed with battling the hostile voice in my head that I was forced to ignore her.

"What is the matter with you?" I distantly heard Lauren's angry voice as she found her way to a standing position and wiped the sand from her clothes. "Whatever, Edward," she snarled as she padded off toward the others.

The growl began to fade to a steady low grumble that was low enough that I felt I could rise to my feet. I approached the bonfire cautiously, not knowing what to expect. I could see Emmett's large silhouette on one edge of the circle and made my way to his side. I stepped into the light and assessed the group assembled. There were several people that I recognized from school – all with beers in their hands and huddled around the warmth from the blazing fire which crackled and snapped in the wind.

Lauren was whispering to Rosalie, and glared at me as I walked up. I had no energy to care about whether I had hurt her feelings or not. I refused to subject myself to any kind of manipulation from her type. Yet when I stole a glance back in her direction she looked over at me with such a wounded expression on her face that I felt compelled to apologize.

I meandered over to her side but before I could speak to her the growl pushed its way into my head again and I stood fixed, paralyzed by the depth of feeling it evoked within me. I winced and my eyes searched the darkness for Bella – she is the only one who had ever invaded my thoughts and I sensed she was near. My body was in chaos – struggling to mire through the attack on my mind while simultaneously I was excited by the thought of seeing the beautiful dark angel of my dreams once again.

Just as I was beginning to feel overwhelmed by the relentless growl in my head, a group of large figures seemed to float into the circle of light to distract me from my torment. My heart beat began to accelerate in my chest so it seemed it was thundering. Though their bodies were massive, some of them nearing seven feet tall, they did not present themselves as a threat. In fact, the three boys were clearly known by several of the other kids from school and had jovial, friendly expressions on their faces.

I had only seen one of these guys before – he was even more impressive by the shadowy glint of the firelight than he was that day after school when he drove off on his motorcycle with the girl who had been haunting my every waking moment. He was by far the most commanding of the three boys and despite his friendly demeanor I was more than intimidated by him.

I found that if I concentrated I could push the growling to the back of my mind so that I could listen on the conversations around me. Emmett was entirely unaware of my internal distress, his complete attention was devoted to Rosalie, who clutched onto him possessively. Nevertheless he noticed I was there and handed me a beer. I clasped the cold object in my hand as he reached out and introduced himself to the newcomers who offered their names as Embry, Quil and Jacob.

Emmett pointed to me and I heard my name flow off his lips. Jacob twisted his body to look in my direction and I recognized the curiosity in his eyes. There was no animosity in his gaze and I wondered what it was he was questioning as his eyes searched over me. Jacob – the name of my new enemy? I wasn't sure yet.

I found myself appraising him in the cloak of the darkness as he appraised me. I wondered at his interest in me – I certainly was no threat or competition for that matter. Perhaps Bella had mentioned me to him. Just as this thought crossed my mind, the ceaseless rumbling in my head stopped just as quickly as it began and Bella appeared out of the darkness to stand next to Jacob's side.

I didn't miss the look he shot in her direction. He seemed as surprised by her presence as I. She took a step forward and my breath caught in my throat. I hadn't imagined her. And I hadn't glorified her beauty in my mind – she was even more breathtaking than in my fantasies. Her pale skin was beyond luminous in the glowing embers of the blazing fire making her appear lit up from within, a magnificent goddess.